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MSI GTX 1080 Ti ARMOR overview

1Description

Based on NVIDIA's Pascal architecture and designed to handle the graphical demands of 4K gaming, the MSI GeForce GTX 1080 Ti ARMOR 11G OC Graphics Card provides major improvements in performance, memory bandwidth, and power efficiency over its predecessor, the high-performance Maxwell architecture. It also introduces innovative graphics features and technologies that redefine the computer as the platform for playing AAA games and taking full advantage of virtual reality via NVIDIA VRWorks.

The front panel of the card features a variety of outputs. There are two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, two HDMI 2.0b outputs, and a DVI-D DL output. The GTX 1080 Ti is not just about high-resolution gaming. Computationally intensive programs can utilize the GPU's 3584 cores to accelerate tasks using CUDA or other APIs.

For cooling, MSI implemented dual TORX fans, which maximizes downwards airflow and air dispersion to the heat sink below them. This GPU also utilizes MSI ZeroFrozr technology to eliminate fan noise by stopping the fans in low-load situations.

VRWorks

VRWorks Graphics includes a simultaneous multi-projection capability that renders natively to the unique dimensions of VR displays instead of traditional 2D monitors. It also renders geometry for the left and right eyes simultaneously in a single pass.

VRWorks Audio uses the NVIDIA OptiX ray-tracing engine to trace the path of sounds across an environment in real-time, fully reflecting the size, shape, and material of the virtual world.

NVIDIA PhysX for VR detects when a hand controller interacts with a virtual object, and enables the game engine to provide a physically accurate visual and haptic response. It also models the physical behavior of the virtual world around the user so that all interactions -- whether an explosion or a hand splashing through water -- behave as if in the real world.

NVIDIA Ansel

With Ansel, gamers can compose the gameplay shots they want, pointing the camera in any direction and from any vantage point within a gaming world. They can capture screenshots at up to 32 times the screen resolution, and then zoom in where they choose without losing fidelity. With photo-filters, they can add effects in real-time before taking the shot. And they can capture 360-degree stereo photospheres for viewing in a VR headset or Google Cardboard.

SLI Ready

With a compatible motherboard and a connecting bracket, two or more NVIDIA GPUs of the same model can combine processing power using NVIDIA's Scalable Link Interface (SLI). How the cards work together can be customized to suit your preferences. Alternate frame rendering has each alternating card prepare the next frame, essentially multiplying the capabilities of a single card's maximum capable frame rate output. Each card in the configuration can also be used to improve anti-aliasing by being able to process an image in parallel with the other cards before filtering out jagged edges.

NVIDIA's parallel computing platform which enables an increase in computing performance by harnessing the parallel nature of GPU processing. CUDA compatible applications can assign intensive parallel computing tasks, such as real-time video rendering, to the GPU to process, freeing up the computer's CPU to run other tasks.

G-SYNC Ready

When used with a monitor that has G-SYNC hardware installed, the monitor's refresh rate will sync and lock with the graphics card's output frame rate. Establishing this sync removes tearing and stuttering which can result from conventional fixed screen refresh rates, especially important for gaming in stereoscopic 3D. An additional benefit of G-SYNC is reduced lag so gamers will benefit from the improved command response time as well.

NVIDIA GPU Boost 3.0

Boosts the card's clock speed in real-time based on the target temperature. If the card is running below the set target temperature, GPU Boost 3.0 will increase the clock speed to improve performance. The target temperature can be reset depending on your preference so you can have the card run more quietly for everyday tasks and older games, and run at full tilt during intense high-resolution gaming sequences.

MSI GTX 1080 Ti ARMOR reviews

Rated 5 out of
5 by
Tyler from
Don't let the rumors discourage you.Due to the shortage of GPU's this was the only GTX 1080 TI in stock for under $1000 without tax. Unfortunately after reading up on the MSI Armor edition of most cards, everybody kept saying it has an inadequate heatsink and that this card overheats. I have a GTX 1060 6GB armor and it has never gone above 65c at full loads. So optimistically I purchased this card.
After installing the card, drivers and pulling up Valley I benchmarked the card and looked and behold it barely overheats. It was hitting 77c at it's highest. After creating a custom fan curve I have now only seen it hit 71c on GR:WL at 100% load for 30 minutes. However I think it gets hot due to the card being overclocked a lot further than the specs state. Out of the box it hits 1950mhz. So no doubt it is going to run hot. I'm satisfied with it.
TL;DR The card does run hot, however with a custom fan curve it hits 71c at 100% loads. It also is overclocked out of the box at a higher clock speed than stated in its specs. It runs at 1900+mhz.